Centering apparatus for transport system for moving cop changing apparatus



I March 31, 1970 G,GOLDAMMEHR ET AL 3,503,198

CENTERING APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR MOVING COP CHANGING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1968- 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 a I to INVENTORS e 3 GEORcYwwAMMER \r 6 TTFR (ca) say 115 March 31, 1970 5. G OLDAMMER ET AL 3,503,198

. CENTERING APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR MOVING COP CHANGING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1968 3 Shets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS G- ORG G-OLQAMMER G'O TTF- R i E'D sow/E bert March 3-1, 1970 G.GOLDAMMER ETAL 3,503,198 CENTERING APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR MOVING COP CHANGING APPARATUS Filed June 24, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A "7| LE 3 l -le x- 3 g 8 I 51' R -n k INVENTORS GEO n c, (row/musk GOTTFRI'ED sew/21 954 United States Patent 3,503,198 CENTERING APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR MOVING COP CHANGING APPARATUS Georg Goldammer and Gottfried Schneider, Ingolstadt,

Germany, assignors to Schubert & Salzer Maschinenfabrik Aktiengesellschaft, Ingolstadt, Germany, a corporation of Germany Filed June 24, 1968, Ser. No. 741,156 Claims priority, application Germany, June 24, 1967, Sch 40,931 Int. Cl. D01h 9/00, 9/10 US. C]. 57-53 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus that defines the precise position for aligning rails of a ring spinning machine and a transport system used for moving cop changing apparatus from one ring spinning machine to another.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Transport systems for moving cop changing apparatus from one ring spinning machine to another consist of trucks traveling on tracks which run on one side of the spinning machines. The trucks are ordinarily powered by batteries independently of any stationary power source. When a luminous signal or the like indicates that a spinning machine is ready for the removal of the cops, the truck is driven by an operator to this machine along with the cop changer which it carries, and is brought into a precise position opposite the end frame of the ring spinning machine in question. In order to assure that the correct coupling position has been reached, guide marks are applied to the front of the truck and to the corresponding place on the floor in front of the ring spinning machine where the truck is brought to a stop, The truck is then brought into precise coupling position by means of hand wheels. This precise position for the coupling of the truck is necessary to enable the cop changer to be placed on rails running along another side of the ring spinning machine and are perpendicular to the truck tracks on which the cop changing apparatus is transported.

In addition, the truck is connected to a stationary power source at the ring spinning machine for operation of the cop changer and for charging of the batteries on the truck.

Since this coupling must be performed very accurately, it requires a great deal of time and attention. Furthermore, in the case of improper coupling or slight errors of operation, trouble and damage can be caused in the transfer devices, so that there is no assurance of timely and correct cop changing. In short, the accurate performance of the above mentioned procedures depends to a great extent on the care taken by operating personnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the purpose of the present invention to simplify the placing of the track in the coupling position, and to render this operation independent of the care and accuracy required to be exercised by the operator. According to the invention, this is achieved by means of a centering apparatus that guides the transport truck into the coupling position, at the spinning machine. This permits perfect and precise coupling, independently of the human factor.

The centering apparatus consists of a centering cam and a center locator specifically adapted to the centering cam, one being disposed on the side of the ring spinning machine facing the truck and the other on the side of the truck facing the spinning machine, so as to be movable one toward the other.

The centering cam or the center locator, as the case may be, is disposed on a coupling carriage mounted on the truck and displaceable crosswise to the direction of travel of the truck, so that the coupling movement simultaneously produces centering. This design permits a horizontal movement of the truck into the coupling position.

A further characteristic of the invention consists of the rails and supporting bars for the cop changing apparatus are constructed as centering parts which are elastically displaceable vertically. In this manner dilferences in height between the ring spinning machine and the truck, such as those produced by irregularities in the floor or tracks, can be compensated.

In order to bring the truck to a stop in the coupling position without further intervention by the truck operator, a longitudinal travel limit switch is installed which stops the motor that propels the truck and at the same time starts the motor of the coupling carriage. The coupling carriage motor drives the coupling carriage trans versely to the direction of travel of the truck, engaging the centering cam with the center locator, to the center position defined by the centering apparatus and then a transverse travel limit switch stops the coupling carriage motor. A retarding switch located ahead of the longitudinal travel limit switch can first reduce the truck speed when it is operating at high speeds in order to achieve more accurate halting of the truck in the operating range of the centering apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING A description of the basic principles of this invention will more readily follow a description of the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a coupling carriage which carries the cop changer and is disposed on a truck;

FIG. 2 shows the introduction position to the centering of the truck in the coupling position;

FIG. 3 shows the electrical control circuit diagram of the motors; and

FIG. 4 shows a detail of a further improvement of the centering of the system according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The truck transport consists of a truck 1 which travels on wheels 2 and is guided by tracks 3 along one side of adjacently located ring spinning machines and carries the cop changing apparatus 5 at one end of the truck 1. The truck 1 is composed of a chassis, shown in broken lines as illustrated in FIG. 1, and a coupling carriage, displaceably mounted therein, which is shown in solid lines, also illustrated in FIG. 1. The truck 1 is driven by a motor TM, which draws its power from batterys (not illustrated) carried on truck 1. The batteries also supply the power need for motor SM, which drives the coupling carriage.

The coupling carriage is formed from a front cross member 43, a middle cross member 44, and a rear cross member 45, joined to one another by rods 46 which are mounted on bearings 47 so as to be longitudinally displaceable thereon, and also joined together by rails 41 and supporting bars 42. The rods 46 are positioned to cause the coupling carriage to be displaced crosswise to the direction of travel of the truck transport. Rails 41 and supporting bars 42 serve as the rails and supports for the cop changer and are positioned to match the rails 41 and supporting bars 42 shown inFIG. 2 (and in FIG. 4).

A centering cam 6 is provided on the side of the front cross member 43 facing the ring spinning machine. The center locator 61 co-operating with the centering cam 6 is located on the front end of the ring spinning machine facing the longitudinal side of the tracks 3 for the truck transport.

An electrical plug connector 62 is also located on front cross member 43, the mating electrical outlet connector being mounted on the front end of the ring spinning machine.

The manner of operation of the motor controls is best understood by describing a sequence of events as an illustrative example. To begin with, the ring spinning machine which will soon be ready for removal of the full cops will indicate the situation by means of a signal light or other visual aid. The operator then presses switch 7 on truck 1, shown in FIG. 3, switch 7 assuming one of two holding positions. If switch 7 is depressed to holding position 7', motor TM of truck 1 is connected through relay 72 resulting in slow speed. On the other hand if switch 7 is depressed to holding position 7", the motor TM is connected through relay 73 resulting in a high speed. To reverse the direction of the truck transport, switch 71 is depressed assuming positions which function similarly to switch 7 when in holding position 7' or position 7". I

When either switch 7 or 71 has been depressed to holding position 7" or the equivalent for switch 71 the switch remains in the second holding position until truck 1 comes into the general aera of the ring spinning machine that is to be unloaded. As the truck transport approaches the frontal edge of the ring spinning machine, as shown in FIG. 2, cam 31 mounted on the ring spinning machine operates retarding switch 10 or 13, depending on the direction of travel from which the truck transport approaches. After retarding switch 10 is actuated by cam 31 (switch position 10'), the driving motor TM of the truck continues to run at slow speed until longitudinal travel limit switch 12 is depressed by cam 32 also mounted on the ring spinning machine (switch position 12). This shuts off the motor TM of the truck 1, while at the sametime a brake, which is not shown, is applied to bring truck 1 on track 3 to a standstill where the centering apparatus of the truck 1 and the ring spinning machine are in the approximate operable area of each other. At about the same time control switch 11 is depressed by cam 33 into position 11' and auxiliary switch 14 is set to position 14' as shown in FIG. 3 thereby starting motor SM of the coupling carriage and simultaneously disengaging the brake holding truck 1 at a standstill on tracks 3. The control switch 11 and cam 33 interact only when truck 1 with the coupling carriage are properly situated so that the centering apparatus on both the truck transport and the ring spinning machines can be engaged correctly, allowing the coupling action to follow the normal contours of the centering cam so as to achieve precise centering simultaneously.

If the ring spinning machine that the truck transport is approaching is not to be unloaded, when cam 31 depresses either retarding switch 10 or 13, depending on the direction of travel of the truck transport, either switch 7 or 71 is pushed into position 7" or the equivalent for switch 71. In this manner the effect of retarding switch 10 or 13 is bypassed and the truck transport will continue to travel past the ring spinning machine.

Motor SM of the coupling carriage shown in FIG. 2 (and FIG. 1) drives, through gears 66 and 67, a threaded spindle 68 which is rotatably mounted in bearings 76 situated on the chassis of the truck and, by means of the middle cross member 44 or a nut 40 fastened to the cross member, displaces the coupling carriage in the direction of the ring spinning machine. When the truck transport has been brought to a standstill in the correct area of the centering apparatus of both units, the displacement of the coupling carriage brings centering cam 6 into engagement with center locator 61 mounted fixedly on one or the other unit. As the displacement of the coupling carriage is continued, the truck transport is moved longitudinally of the ring spinning machine and guided to a precise center position defined by the profile of the centering cam wherein the rails 41 and supporting bars 42 of the coupling carriage and the rails 41' and supporting bars 42 of the ring spinning machine are brought into perfect alignment with each other, respectively.

The centering cam 6 may be fastened to the ring spinning machine and the center locator 61 to the coupling carriage, or the reverse may be the case. In addition, it is also feasible that the center locator 61 or the centering cam 6, as the situation might warrant, would better function when fastened to the floor in front of the ring spinning machine.

When the coupling carriage and ring spinning machine centering apparatus function is completed, as indicated in broken lines in FIG. 2, motor SM of the coupling carriage is disconnected by transverse travel limit switch 74 being depressed to position 74' (FIG. 3). In addition to transverse travel limit switch 74 and for reasons of safety, a slip disk coupling can be incorporated in the coupling carriage drive.

In order to compensate for vertical differences between the various ring spinning machines and truck transports as a result of any irregularities in the floor, accumulated tolerances in the construction of each unit and the like, the extremities of rails 41' and supporting bars 42' mounted fixedly to the ring spinning machines are connected to pivotable extension members 48 and 49, respectively, which are elastically movable vertically. The extension members 48 and 49 are pivotably mounted in line with rails 41' and supporting bars 42', respectively,

and are held elastically in a middle position by springs 50, 51 and 52, 53, respectively. The free end of the extension members 48, 49 are shaped to be center locators, and the free ends of rails 41 and supporting bars 42 on the coupling carriage are shaped to be centering cams as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The free ends of extension members 48, 49 engage the free ends of the matching rails 41 and support bars 42 on the coupling carriage, as the coupling carriage i displaced towards the ring spinning machine, and are shifted into the required vertical position so that a smooth passage of travel is provided between the rails 41 and support bars 42 of the coupling carriage and those of the ring spinning machine for transfer of the cop changing apparatus from one to the other and back again. The electrical plug connector 62 i also similarly constructed for precise joining to the electrical outlet connector located on the ring spinning machine. This connection to a stationary power source is for the purpose of charging, during the cop changing process, the batteries used to drive the truck and coupling carriage motors and also can be applied to supply the required power to the cop changing apparatus.

After the cop changer apparatus 5 has been transferred back onto truck 1 when the changing of the cops is completed, the connection to the ring spinning machine is broken by withdrawing the coupling carriage to its starting position. The truck transport can then be driven to the next ring spinning machine by depressing switch 7 or 7' to holding position 7'' or equivalent for switch 71. It is readily ,observed that this resets the built in computertype coupling and centering program, having a nondistinguishable input acceptability as to high or low speed with manual override, for the next cop changing action.

The invention has here been described with reference to a mechanical method of centering. While there has been described what is at present considered to be preferred embodiments of this invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention. For example, an electrical method is of course, also possible by means of an induction coil system or a photoelectric cell system serving as means of controlling the drive motor TM of the truck 1.

It is to be understood that the above described arrangements are simply illustrative of the application of the principle of the invention. Numerous other arrangements may be readily devised by those skilled in the art which will embody the principles of the invention and fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

, What is claimed is:

' 1. In a transportation system for moving of cop changing apparatus from one ring spinning machine to another, which ring spinning machines, each have rails for travel thereon of the cop changing apparatus, comprising tracks disposed transversely to said rails and a truck mounted on said tracks, means for controlling the approach speed of said truck to each ring spinning machine, means for moving said truck from one spinning machine to another and, power means for transferring the cop changing apparatus from said truck along the ring spinning machine rails, the improvement which comprises:

a cam mounted on said truck,

a. cam follower for cooperation with said cam mounted on each of said spinning machines to position the cop changing apparatus on the truck for transfer thereof from the truck to the spinning machine,

said cam to be movable relative to the cam follower transversely of said track to permit engagement of said cam and cam follower for the operative alignment interaction thereof. I

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the truck has rails fixedly attached and having connecting members which are vertically displaceable center locating cams at one end and pivotably mounted at the other end matching and aligning with said rails mounted on the ring spinning machines.

3. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the power means is supplied by an electrical plug connection connecting member having a vertically displaceable center locating cam at one end and pivotally mounted at the other end, the matching electrical outlet connector having a centering cam at one end, thereby compensating for irregularities in the vertical dimensions between the ring spinning machines and truck.

4. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the means for moving the truck longitudinally is deenergized and simultaneously a means for moving the truck transversely to said tracks is energized by a longitudinal travel limit switch, thereby stopping the truck transport in the range of the centering apparatus.

5. An apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the truck speed is reduced by a retarding switch connected ahead of said longitudinal travel limit switch, thereby insuring accuracy of the stopping position in the range of the centering apparatus when the truck is traveling at high speeds.

6. In a transport truck system for moving of cop changing apparatus from one ring spinning machine to another which comprises:

a coupling carriage, mounted on the truck, formed by three cross members joined to one another by rods which are rotatably mounted on bearings so as to be longitudinally displaceable thereon, and by rails and supporting bars which serve as rails and supports for the cop changer and match the rails and supporting bars on the ring spinning machines, {means for automatic speed control of said truck approaching each ring spinning machine, means for driving said truck from one ring spinning machine to another, means for driving the coupling carriage to cause centering thereof to align the cop changer for transferring onto the rails and cop removal action," power means for transferring the cop changing apparatus from said truck along the ring spinning machine rails, and a centering apparatus that defines the precise center coupling position of the matching rails of the transport truck.

7. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein said coupling carriage is displaceable in the crosswise direction of travel to said truck and simultaneously displaces said truck longitudinally to provide for centering.

8. An apparatus as in claim 6 wherein the means for automatic speed control of said truck approaching each ring spinning machine comprises cam actuatedswitches retarding truck from maximum speed to predetermined speed by reducing applied power, and cam actuated switches retarding truck from maximum speed to predetermined speed by reducing applied power, and cam actuated switches retarding truck from predetermined speed to stop within a predetermined range.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,300,959 1/1967 Fujihara et al. 57-54 XR 3,360,914 1/1968 Black et al. 57-1 X'R 3,373,551 3/1968 Gillono et a1 5'753 XR 3,374,617 3/1968 Bryan 57- 53 3,411,281 11/1968 Guido et al 57-l XR DONALD E. WATKINIS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

57-54; ZOO-61.13 

